Fire breaks out at California home while armed suspect remains inside, police say

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A fire ignited at a residence in California on the evening of Christmas Eve, while an armed suspect remained barricaded inside the dwelling, according to reports from local authorities.

The incident unfolded when the Los Angeles County Fire Department received a 911 call regarding an address on 11th Street in Hermosa Beach at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, as detailed by KTLA-TV.

Eyewitnesses recounted that nearby residents had heard a heated argument and observed an individual armed with a firearm entering the two-story residence. This individual adamantly resisted surrendering to the arriving police officers, as reported by KTLA.

The situation took a concerning turn when a fire broke out in the garage of the residence shortly before 5 p.m., as per KTLA’s account.

At 9 p.m., Hermosa Beach Police Chief Paul LeBaron held a news conference where he indicated that law enforcement still believed the armed suspect to be inside the house, and presumably alive. It was noted that the immediate family members of the suspect, including children, had evacuated the premises prior to the arrival of the police, as reported by KTLA.

Chief LeBaron explained, “They came out and, at that point, the only person left inside that we were aware of was the suspect.” He also mentioned that neighboring residences had been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

There were reports of audible explosions, possibly gunshots, but Chief LeBaron clarified that law enforcement officers did not believe they were specifically targeted.

Upon arrival, both firefighters and police refrained from attempting entry into the residence. At the time, they were uncertain whether the armed individual was still present inside, as reported by the Daily Breeze newspaper, citing a fire official at the scene.

Firefighters established a defensive perimeter surrounding the garage in an effort to contain the fire and prevent its spread to adjacent structures, according to the same fire official cited by the newspaper.

As of the latest information available, it remains unclear whether the fire was still actively burning on Sunday night.

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More about California armed suspect standoff

• KTLA-TV Report
• Daily Breeze Newspaper
• Hermosa Beach Police Department